Piece-work recording machine



June 23, 1942. C PE'F'Q Y 2,287,089

PIECE-WORK RECORDING MACHINE 1 Filed Oct. 12, 1958 s Sheets-Sheet 1 1, I A I l I'- 6'; E o V Fly. 1 I! 4 f I 87 73 I l G 95 INVENTOR BENJAMIN COOPER PIECE-WORK RECORDING MACHINE Filed 0013. 12, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 BENJAMIN C00 FER Ar'raaiuv June 23, 1942 B, OO E 2,287,089

PIECE-WORK RECORDING MACHINE Fi led Oct. 12, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 0 Fly. 1

' INVENTOR.

BENJAMIN COOPER ATTORNEY Patented June 23, 1942 UNITED STATES ATENT" OFFICE This invention relates to a piece-work recording machine and more particularly to a machine.

for recording information according to a pre-arranged code asindicated by'perforations in a card or sheet of paper.

In a system wherein perforated cards are used;

the practice is to perforate a card according to a pre-arranged code. The perforations, indicating by code such items as style, rate per piece, operations to be performed, etc.

In machines of the mechanical type wherein fingers are used to pick up the perforations, because of the .numerous punchings and the wear and tear on the card as its passes through the machine, it has been found necessary heretofore to make the cards of a 'strongcardboard or equivalent material.

An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus of the character described which shall be simple and rugged in construction, convenient in use, and which shall enable quick and accurate determination of the data in question. I

A still further object being to print a correlation of items upon a ticket to convey information to a worker indicating such items, as style, rate per piece, operations; to be performed, etc., which go with the Work.

A further object is to mechanically move recording members in difierential steps by means of a record sheet.

Another object is to provide means for selectively setting the recording means, and to lock the plurality of settings fora recording thereof.

A further object is to provide means for re- 3.

setting recorder to insure recorder being at normal starting position before again exercising control over same.

A still further object is to provide means for recording information according to a pre-arranged code wherein the card or sheet of paper is so held as to transfer the wear and stress on it to the holding members.

An object of the present invention consists in making a setting'device for a recorder dependent upon the insertion of a card or sheet, having a pre-arranged code thereon, and maintaining that record in a holding means and advancing the record past a plurality of feelers or pickup arms, to cause the setting thereof.

-Other objects and characteristic features of the invention will appear from the following detailed description of one embodiment thereof, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein identical reference numerals are applied to the same ures, and in which- Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the record ing machine shown partially in section to illustrate the details of construction;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view, partially in section, of the card holding and setting assembly shown in an open position;

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of the recording machine, partially in section, showing the machine in a recording position;

parts in the several fig- Fig. 4- is an elevational view taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a front elevational view showing part of the structure broken away to illustrate the recording means; 7

Fig. 6 is a side elevational viewof the other side of the machine'illustrating the crank and dial setting means; and 7 Fig. 7 is an exploded view of assembly.

In the embodiment of the invention herein disclosed there is provided an enclosing frame H] for the recording mechanism, having a wall l4 so shaped as to cover the top andrear of the machine, bearings 29 being formed in the upper portion of --wall l4. Frame I 0 has a front wall I5 and side walls 20. Front wall l5 has an opening 41 therein; the lower portion of opening '4l having a sheet holding bed I! which is an integral part of the front wall [5, the sheet holding bed I! having an opening 32 therein. In the lowerportion of the front wall l5, a bearing 21 is formed. A card setting and holding-assembly is-mounted in the upper front portion of frame I0, as shown in Figs, 1, 3, 5, and 6. I

A shaft is mounted between side walls 20, carrying thereon a recording assembly I6 which consists ofjtype holding cams 42, 43, 44, and

the card holding 45,-Fig. 5, having a type face 63 on the outer faceof each.;; Type carriers 44 and 45 have lever' arms 61 and 68, Fig. 3, connected therewith," and type carriers 42,and 43 have geared segrlnents 4 8 and 49 respectively connected there-' wit held in an inoperative position by springs 18 and 19 attached thereto and being connected at their other ends to a cross bar 80, the lever arms 61 and 68 being held against a stop pin 33, as shown in Fig. 1. Attached to the ends of lever arms 61 and 68 by means of pins 69 and 10 are pickup points 15 and 16 respectively.

Gear segments 48 and 49 are engaged by the gears 5! and 52 respectively, the gears 5i and,

The lever arms 61 and 68 are normally 52 being mounted upon shafts 53 and 54 respectively, said shafts passing through the side wall 20 which acts as a bearing for same, and having mounted on their outer ends dials 56 and 51 respectively. The geared segments 48 and 49 are retained in position by means of setting pawl levers 58 and 59 respectively. The pawl levers 58 and 59 are pivotally mounted on a pin 46 and attached at their other ends to rods 60 and GI. The rods 60 and BI pass upwardly through the bearings 29 and have at their upper ends push buttons 64 and 65 respectively affixed thereto. Mounted on the rods 60 and GI between the bearings 29 and push buttons 64 and 65 are springs 62 which normally hold the pawls 58 and 59 engaged with gear segments 48 and 49 respectively.

A printing mechanism I8 consists of an electromagnetic coil 2I mounted within frame I in any suitable manner, a plunger 25 mounted within coil 2|, a shaft 26 mounted between side walls 20 and having a lever 22 mounted thereon which is connected to the plunger 25, and the other end of lever 22 rests against a stop pin 24 when inoperative, and is held there by a spring 23 which is mounted on one side 20 of frame I0, Fig. 1. The spring mounted end of pivot lever 22 has mounted thereon a printing hammer 28 which is in alignment with the opening 32 in the sheet bed I1. A switch means I9 consists of a rod 35 which is mounted in a bearing 21 and restrained from operation by a spring 50 having mounted on its outer end a push button 34. The inner end of rod 35, when operated, engages contact 36 causing it to engage contact 31.

Inserted in the printing opening 4| of the main frame I0, and passing over the opening 32 in the sheet bed I1, is a paper 3I and an inked ribbon 30 which passes under the type faces 63 of each of the type carriers 42, 43, 44, and 45, Fig. 5, and the ribbon is held in operative position by a pair of rollers 66-66, Fig. 5.

The card setting and holding assembly II, mounted in the upper front portion of frame I0, consists of a frame portion I2 which is made up of a front wall I05, a rear wall I06, a bottom I08,

and side walls I01I01, Figs. 1 and 3. The rear wall I06 has an elongated slot I03, Figs. 3 and 5, running approximately the perpendicular length of the wall. Extending from the upper portion of front wall I is a reset button bracket 83, Figs. 1 and 3. The bracket 83 is an extension of the side wall I01, Fig. 6, and has a face portion 11, Fig. 3. A rod 85 passes through the face 11 of the bracket 83 and through the front wall I05 of the frame I2, Fig. 3. Mounted on the outer end of rod 85 is a resetting button 8I, also mounted on the rod 85 is a stop member 86 and spring 84, Figs. 1 and 3, both being positioned between the bracket face 11 and the front wall I05 of frame I2, the stop member 86 being pinned to the rod 85. The, inner end of rod 85 engages a leg 99 of a resetting lever 96, Fig. 3, which is pivoted at a point 98 to the frame I2. The leg 99 has a spring 91 attached thereto and said spring is attached at its other end to the frame I2. The lever 96 has another leg I00 which engages the rear face of a rack frame II8, Fig. 1, through an opening H3 in the rear wall I06 of frame I2, as shown in Fig. 1.

Mounted loosely through an opening 94 in wall I05, is a rectangular push member 81 which also passes through an opening H4 in wall I06. On the outer end of the member 81 a release and locking button, 82 is mounted. On the other end of member 81 a stop pin 90 is mounted, and a short distance from the end of the member 81, an arm 89 extends downwardly and has a spring 88 attached thereto and which is also attached to wall I05 of the frame I2. Midway of the member 81 a pin 9I is inserted which acts as a stop means preventing the member 81 from being withdrawn from the frame I2. On the upper face of member 81, at a point forward of the stop pin 9I, a slot 92 is formed having right angular shoulders 93, Figs. 1 and 3. In operation, the button 82 is pushed inwardly and then upwardly, as shown in Fig. 2, causing the front wall I05 to fit into slot 92 holding the member 81 in an engaged position, Fig. 2.

A card holding assembly I3, Fig. '1, consists of a pinion rack II5, washers II6, holding screws II1, the rack frame II8, a paper guide frame I20, a U-shaped frame I21 and a spring I25. The rack frame I I8 is slidably mounted on the outside face of the rear wall I06 of the frame I2, and the pinion rack H5 is slidably mounted on the inside face of the wall I06, both being positioned by the screws II1 which pass through rack II5, the washers II6, the elongated slot I03 of wall I06, and are threaded into the rack frame II8, holding the whole card holding assembly I3 in a slidable engagement with the wall I06 of frame I2. The outer face of rack frame II8 has a toothed rack I I9 substantially covering the whole outer face. The lower end of the rack frame I I8 has a rod 2 mounted therein, as shown in Fig. 7. The rod II2 passes through the elongated slot I03 of wall I06, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, and has a spring III attached thereto, which is attached at its other end to a fixed rod IIO mounted in the frame I2, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5. Engaging with the pinion rack H5 is a pinion gear IOI, Figs. 3 and 5. The pinion gear IOI is mounted on a shaft I02 which passes through the side wall I01 of the frame I2, mounted on the outer end of shaft I02 and keyed thereto is a bell crank lever I04 which is used to turn the gear IOI when moving the pinion rack I I5. Fixed to the rack frame I I8 is a card guide frame I20, as shown in Fig. 1. The frame I20 has the two side walls MI and I42 and the bottom I43 engaging the rack frame II8, as shown in Fig. 7. The guide frame I20 has two elongated slots I2I and I22 through its face I40 and two rectangular openings I23 and I24 also through the face I40, Figs. 4 and '1. Mounted on the face I40 is a spring leaf I25. Mounted on the frame I20, Fig. '1, by pivot pins I38 and I39, is a U-shaped frame I21 which consists of two arms I29 and I30 and a base I28, Figs. 4 and 7. The upper end of the arms I29 and I30 receive the pivot pins I38 and I39, the intermediate portion of the arms I29 and I30 have inwardly and downwardly bent prongs I33 and I34 which have points I35 and I36, Fig. '1. The points I35 and I36 fit respectively into the openings I23 and I24 of the frame I20, Fig. '7. The base I28 has an extended portion I3I which, in operation, engages the pickup arms 13 and 14, Fig. 2. The spring I25 is attached to frame I20 and rests at its outer end on the sprong I34, so that it will keep the U-shaped frame I21 in a spring pressed position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

To illustrate the operation of the machine, let it be assumed that the machine is ready for operation as in Fig. 1. The first step is to push the button 82 inwardly against the tension of the spring 88 and allow the slot 92 to align with the wall I05, then allow the shoulder 93- to engage wall I05, this in turn causes the stop pin to move outwardly to prevent the movement of the card holding means 13 and in turn to cause the end of member 81 to push the frame I21 outwardly as shown in Fig. 2. The frame 121 pushing pickup arms 13 and 14 out of engagement" and carrying points I35 and I36 out of position, allows a card to be inserted in the space between the inner side of face I40 and the rack face H9 as shown in Fig. 2. The locking button 82 is then released from engagement with frame 12, the Spring 88 returning it to its normal position with stop pin 9| against wall I05. This in turn allows frame I21 to return to its normal position, frame I21 allowing the pickup arms 13 and 14 to fall against the face .of this inserted card and also allows the spring pressed points 135 and I36 to engage the face of card, holding it against movement.

The card being set, this device is ready for operation. Let it be assumed that the bell crank I 3 is turned clockwise as indicated by arrow in Fig. 6, until it reaches the dotted position against the stop pin 109, as shown in Fig. 6. This will cause the pinion gear lfil to move the pinion rack and card holding assembly downwardly until it reaches a position as shown in Figs. 3 and 5. During the downward movement of the assembly [3, the pickup arm points 15 and 16 pass over the face of the paper 3| until they reach a perforation in the paper which allows them to be spring pressed through this perforation and engage the particular tooth of the rack 1 W of frame I I8, assuming positions, for example, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. When the pickup points 15 and 16 have engaged the rack I 18 they move downwardly with the rack until the rack reaches the position, as shown in Fig. 3, when the reset lever 96 will engage by means of the end H18, the top of the rack H8 thus locking it in position for the printing operation. The pickup arms 13 and 14, having been carried downwardly by the frame H8, will move the type holding cam levers 61 and 68 downwardly to a position as shown in Figs. 3, 4, and 5. This in turn will cause the type carriers 44 and to be moved in direct relation with levers 61 and 68, as shown in Fig. 3, thus being positioned for a printing operation.

To reset this part of the mechanism, the reset button 8| is pushed inwardly against the tension of spring 84 engaging leg 99 of lever 96 and retracting leg I06 from the top surface of frame H8 which will allow the spring III, by means of the rod H2 which is attached to the frame M8, to restore the said frame to its normal starting position as shown in Fig. 1. The pickup arms 13 and 15 being released are returned to their normal position, as shown in Fig. 1, by springs 18 and 19.

In this mechanism there are provided a plurality of type carriers two of which, 42 and 43, are shown as being actuated by a dial mechanism. To set these carriers for printing, the dials 56 and 51 are rotated to a desired setting as shown in Fig. 6. The setting of these dials in turn, through their connected gears 5| and 52, and segmental gears 48 and 49, actuate the carriers 42 and 43 with which they are connected. During the setting operation of carriers 42 and #3, it is necessary to press push buttons 64 and 65 downwardly so that they in turn will release the setting pawls 58 and 59. When the carriers 42 and 43 are in position, the push buttons 64 and 65 are released and the setting pawls 53 and 59 are spring pressed into engagement with the segmental gears 48 and 49 retaining the carriers 42 and 43 in a printing position. To reset the type carriers 42 and 43, it is necessary to again press the push buttons 64 and 65 and, by means of the dials 56 and 51, to return them to a zero position.

Assuming that the carriers are in positionfor printing and a paper 3| has been inserted for printing, as shown in Fig. 3,, the switch means 59 is actuated by pressing the switch button 34 closing the contacts 36 and 31 which completes a circuit which may be traced as follows:

From one side of the source of power 40, through the conductor 39, contacts 36 and 31, conductor 38, coil 2|, through conductor 55, to the other side of 40.

The electromagnetic coil 2|, being actuated, will cause plunger 25 to move downwardly actuating the connected lever 22 causing the printing hammer 28 to be moved quickly against the tension of spring 23 to a printing position against the paper 31, carrying it against the inked ribban 3!] and type faces 63 of type carriers 42, 43, 44, and 45, thus completing a printing operation. The release of switch 19 and subsequent breaking of the circuit allows spring 23 to return the lever 22 to its normal position against the stop pin 24, as shown in Fig. 1.

In this machine, it is quite immaterial whether it be a card or paper or other thin sheet material having perforations therein, as the perforated record is spring pressed between two flat members holding it rigidly for operation; there is little or no dependence upon the strength of the material to either support it in position or to provide for the wear upon it.

The operation. of the device having been described, this embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, is merely illustrative and may be modified and departed from in many ways, such as the provision of a power means for rotating shafts I02 and 26, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as pointed out in and limited solely by the appendant claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine of the character described, a frame, a horizontal shaft on said frame, a type carrying member mounted for rotation about the axis of said shaft, a holder slidably mounted on said frame for vertical movement, said holder being provided with a ratchet portion, and a member pivoted to said type carrying member and adapted to engage one of the teeth of said ratchet portion, means for slidably moving the holder downwardly, spring means to move the holder upwardly, means to disengage said pivoted member from said ratchet portion, when said holder is in initial position, a second type carrying member mounted for rotation about the axis of said shaft, means to rotate said second type carrier member, and means to print the data of said positioned type carrying members.

2. In a machine of the character described, a rotatably mounted member carrying fixed type against which a record may be printed, a slidably mounted holder provided with a ratchet portion and adapted to receive a perforated card covering the ratchet portion, a member pivoted to the type carrying member and having a portion adapted to project through the perforation in the card to engage one of the teeth in the ratchet portion, means to slidably move the holder in one direction to rotate said type carrying member in one direction, when the pivoted member engages the ratchet portion, a second rotatably mounted member carrying fixed type, means to rotate said second member, means to retain said second member in its rotated position, means to move said second member back to initial position, and means to print the data of said positioned type carrying members.

3. In a machine of the character described, a rotatably mounted member, carrying fixed type against which a record may be printed, a slidably mounted holder provided with a ratchet portion and adapted to receive a perforated card covering the ratchet portion, a member pivoted to the type carrying member and having a portion adapted to project through the perforation in the card to engage one of the teeth in the ratchet portion, means to slidably move the holder in one direction to rotate said type carrying member in one direction, when the pivoted member engages the ratchet portion, means to disengage the pivoted member from said ratchet portion, when said holder is in initial position, a second rotatably mounted member carrying fixed type, means to rotate said second member, means to retain said second member in its rotated position, means to move said second member back to its initial position, and means to print the data of said positioned type carrying members.

4. In a machine of the character described, a rotatably mounted member carrying fixed type against which a record may be printed, at slidably mounted holder provided with a ratchet portion and adapted to receive a perforated card covering the ratchet portion, a, member pivoted to the type carrying member and having a por- I tion adapted to project through the perforation in the card to engage one of the teethin the ratchet portion, means to slidably move the holder in one direction to rotate said type carrying member in one direction, when the pivoted member engages the ratchet portion, and spring means to rotate said type carrying member in an opposite direction, a second rotatably mounted member carrying fixed type, means to rotate said second member, means to retain said second member in its rotated position, means to move said second member back to its initial position, and means to print the data of said positioned type carrying members.

5. A recording device comprising, a type carrier, a movable holder provided with a member having a series of stops, and adapted to receive a perforated card covering said stop member, a member pivoted to said type carrier, having a portion adapted to project through the perforation in said card to engageone of the stops in the stop member, means to move said holder a predetermined distance to move said type carrier a distance dependent upon the position of said perforation in said card, a second type carrier, means to move said second type carrier a predetermined distance, means to hold said second type carrier in the position to which it has been moved, means to return said second type carrier to initial position, and means to print the data of said positioned type carriers.

6. A recording device comprising, a type carrier, a movable holder provided with a member having a series of stops and adapted to receive a perforated card covering said stop member, a member pivoted to said type carrier, having a portion adapted to project through the perforation in said card to engage one of the stops in the stop member, means to move said holder a predetermined distance to move said type carrier a distance dependent upon the position of said perforation in said card, means to retain said holder in its moved position, means to return said holder to its initial position, means to disengage said member from said holder when said holder is in its initial position, a second type carrier, means to move said second type a predetermined distance, means to hold said second type carrier in the position to which it has been moved, means to return said second type carrier to initial position, and means to print the data of said positioned type carriers.

'7. A recording device comprising, a type carrier, a movable holder provided with a member having a series of stops and adapted to receive a perforated card covering said stop member, means on said holder to engage said card for preventing relative movement between said card and said holder during movement of said holder, a member pivoted to said type carrier, having a portion adapted to project through the perforation in said card to engage one of the stops in the stop member, means to move said holder a predetermined distance to move said type carrier a distance dependent upon the position of said perforation in said card, a second type carrier, means to move said second type carrier a predetermined distance, means to hold said second type carrier in the position to which it has been moved, means to return said second type carrier to initial position, and means to print the data of said positioned type carriers.

8. A recording device comprising, a type carrier, a movable holder provided with a member having a series of stops and adapted to receive a perforated card covering said stop member, means on said holder to engage said card for preventing relative movement between said card and said holder during movement of said holder, a member pivoted to said type carrier, having a portion adapted to project through the perforation in said card to engage one of the stops in the stop member, means to move said holder a predetermined distance to move said type carrier a distance dependent upon the position of said perforation in said card, means to retain said holder in its moved position, means to return said holder to its initial position, means to disengage said member from said holder when said holder is in its initial position, a second type carrier, means to move said second type carrier a predetermined distance, means to hold said .second type carrier in the position to which it has been moved, means to return said second type carrier. to initial position, and means to print the data of said positioned type carriers.

BENJAMIN COOPER. 

